I make paintings that are unapologetically visual. Rather than telling the viewer a story, I invite them to compose a narrative of their own. My visual language recalls the body, the landscape, the psychological, and the manufactured. Textiles, calligraphy and architectural details meld into and become part of the natural world. My latest body of work incorporates soft contoured forms, charged with color and woven textures. They evoke fertile bodies, gently colliding with one another, tethered poignantly with calligraphic lines. I’m aware that the viewer may find little evidence of source material in my paintings, but such is the nature of abstraction. My studio practice is guided by intuition. Compositions evolve as individual pieces swap in and out, the orientation being fluid at first, finally settling into place. When the work feels new, unlike anything I’ve seen, I’m satisfied. Finally, resist the urge to name or identify shapes. Instead, accept my invitation to let go, jump in and swim around.
Sue Heatley has exhibited across the nation, at a formidable variety of galleries and institutions. Her work has been shown at the Virginia Museum Studio School, the Drawing Room in Easthampton, NY, and Site: Brooklyn among others. Her work is featured in collections such as the Estée Lauder Companies, the Medical College of Virginia, and the United States Department of State.